Dial M for Murder (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954): USA

 

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Reviewed by Mitchell Schena. Screened at SBIFF 2013.

Hitchcock has done it again created a mind bending crime mystery that takes the audience on an entertaining journey. This 3-D creation really was spectacular to be able to see the way it was meant to be screened. However due to the fact I sat so close to the screen, the 3-D effects began to make me nauseous. This film was honestly outstanding with really only being filmed in one room and having such a small cast. The story and plot misleads the viewer and then surprises them at the end with a twist.

Tony Wendice (played by Ray Milland) is a husband who goes to great length in order to seek revenge on the cheating of his wife played by Grace Kelly. Kelly’s boyfriend on the side, played by Robert Cummings, begins to discover suspicion and starts leading the facts back to Tony for being responsible of the murder attempt on his wife. Wendice goes back to his college graduating class where he discovers a old classmate (Anthony Dawson) whom he blackmails into killing off his cheating spouse. Plan goes out of expected order and leads to a plot and ending that was not anticipated to be the outcome by the audience. The outstanding performances of the actors, creativity and vision of Hitchcock, and the plot itself were all the necessary requirements in order to make such a game changing film.

This film is filled with extremely long shots that create a feeling of suspense and interest and also anticipation to what’s going to happen next. Many consider this movie to not be an excellent film but I disagree; with such an all star cast, the performances really take it to a whole different level. This plot is what obviously carries the interest and excitement, but the way Alfred tells the story and uses the camera to do the talking is what actually makes this creation everlasting art.


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